How to hold a guitar when you're over 6.5 tall

[RicksPick]

Hi Neil,

I have a question......I have a student who is really óver 2 meters tall (over 6.5), he has súch long arms and legs. I have actually no idea how he should hold his guitar. We've tried out a few positions, but he just 'falls' over the guitar with his right arm in particular, especially when holding the guitar the classical way, on his left leg.

Do you have any tips for me? I'd highly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Vanessa

[BigBear]

Nesh- I'm 6'-4" and I can't play in anything close to "classical" position. The only position that works for me sitting is resting the guitar on my right leg (even the large bout on my leg) which shifts the guitar pretty far right. This allows my long arm to form a sharp "V" and get back into position. This puts my left hand almost straight up. The downside is obviously hand position. I have to really turn my wrist down to get my fingers in good position.

I'm big around the middle and I've decided that the guitar just wasn't built for big people. It's all a compromise.

Better yet is standing but who wants to play this way?

Good luck!! :cheer:

[BobR]

Ah Bear, thanks so much for chiming in!

I looked up some videos of you and I see what you mean, of course we'll try it out. How about a footstool, do you ever use one, or doesn't that work at all?

Thanks!!

Ness

BigBear wrote:

Nesh- I'm 6'-4" and I can't play in anything close to "classical" position. The only position that works for me sitting is resting the guitar on my right leg (even the large bout on my leg) which shifts the guitar pretty far right. This allows my long arm to form a sharp "V" and get back into position. This puts my left hand almost straight up. The downside is obviously hand position. I have to really turn my wrist down to get my fingers in good position.

I'm big around the middle and I've decided that the guitar just wasn't built for big people. It's all a compromise.

Better yet is standing but who wants to play this way?

Good luck!! :cheer:

[BigBear]

nesh16041972 wrote:

Ah Bear, thanks so much for chiming in!

I looked up some videos of you and I see what you mean, of course we'll try it out. How about a footstool, do you ever use one, or doesn't that work at all?

Thanks!!

Ness

BigBear wrote:

Nesh- I'm 6'-4" and I can't play in anything close to "classical" position. The only position that works for me sitting is resting the guitar on my right leg (even the large bout on my leg) which shifts the guitar pretty far right. This allows my long arm to form a sharp "V" and get back into position. This puts my left hand almost straight up. The downside is obviously hand position. I have to really turn my wrist down to get my fingers in good position.

I'm big around the middle and I've decided that the guitar just wasn't built for big people. It's all a compromise.

Better yet is standing but who wants to play this way?

Good luck!! :cheer:

Nesh- I have tried a footstool with not much improvement. One of those portable folding ones. This may not be much help but a big jumbo guitar, like my 855 Taylor, is easier for me because it is so big. But not everyone wants to play a guitar that large. I think I played it on a couple of videos.

I think he will just have to find a compromise position. We've all got some challenge; short fingers, long arms, fat fingers, missing fingers etc. Somehow we find a way to still love our guitars!

:cheer:

[Chasplaya]

What a dilemma! Maybe hold like a Double Bass...

[TGNeil]

Sorry to be late to this thread but everybody has to keep experimenting with different positions until they find something that works for them. This might include standing up or using a strap when sitting. I am fairly tall (6'3") but don't have particularly long arms (or legs for that matter). As far as the right arm is concerned, I don't have the guitar cradled in the crook of my elbow. The edge of the top of the guitar sits about in the middle of my forearm most of the time, letting my hand fall on the strings about halfway between the sound hole and the bridge. I don't have many students who this works well for but we just keep trying different things.

Keep us posted as to the progress of your student.

Neil

[sws626]

Vanessa,
I'm 6'4" with long arms and big hands. I play a rather small (000) guitar on my right leg with a high footstool or with my right leg crossed over my left (see profile photo ->). This works for me, but I expect your student will just have to keep experimenting until he finds something that works for him. I've never been able to get a strap in a good position while standing.
-Stuart

[michelew]

Thanks Rick, Neil and Stuart for your responds, it was definitely useful to me, since I really had no idea!

However, we, as you all suggested, experienced some more, used different guitars, bigger, smaller, no more left leg. Eventually right leg, footstool and a smaller guitar, a classical one funny enough, fit the best. So for that I was really glad that we found a way for him to be able to play it as normal as possible.

Thanks again guys, you helped me out here and I really appreciate it!

cheers

Vanessa

[Hydroman52]

Hi Vanessa,

I'm not sure if this would help your dilemma . . . . have you thought about a guitar rest to change height and angle? Here are some people with opinions and demonstrations of different products.
















Hope this helps,

Hydroman52

[michelew]

Thanks a lot Hydro, definitely going to check it out!


Hydroman52 wrote:

Hi Vanessa,

I'm not sure if this would help your dilemma . . . . have you thought about a guitar rest to change height and angle? Here are some people with opinions and demonstrations of different products.

Hope this helps,

Hydroman52